Enhanced mobility wireless local loop phone

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for implementing a wireless local loop phone that operates connected to or disconnected from a terminal unit. In one implementation, a phone system includes: a terminal unit comprising: a power source, a handset connection; a handset comprising: an antenna, a modem connected to the antenna, a terminal unit connection, a handset user interface; and a power connection cable connected to the handset connection and to the terminal unit connection; wherein the modem provides an air interface using the antenna, and the air interface provides a wireless local loop, when the handset is connected to the terminal unit through the handset connection and the terminal unit connection, the handset receives power from the power source through the power connection cable.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/660,080, filed Sep. 10, 2003. This applicationclaims the benefits of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/409,719, filed Sep. 10, 2002, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/660,080, filed Sep. 10, 2003. The disclosures of the above-referencedpatent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

A wireless local loop phone is used to communicate with a wirelesscellular or PCS network. Typically, a wireless local loop phone includesa handset connected to a terminal unit. The terminal unit provides anair interface to communicate with a wireless network, such as a CDMA,GSM, or TDMA network. Wireless local loop phones are often used as localand long distance home phones where a land line phone system is notavailable.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing awireless local loop phone that operates in one of two modes: (1)connected to or (2) disconnected from a terminal unit. In oneimplementation, a phone system includes: a terminal unit comprising: apower source, a handset connection; a handset comprising: an antenna, amodem connected to the antenna, a terminal unit connection, a handsetuser interface; and a power connection cable connected to the handsetconnection and to the terminal unit connection; wherein the modemprovides an air interface using the antenna, and the air interfaceprovides a wireless local loop, when the handset is connected to theterminal unit through the handset connection and the terminal unitconnection, the handset receives power from the power source through thepower connection cable.

In another implementation, a method of operating a wireless local loopphone includes: connecting a wireless local loop handset to a terminalunit using a power connection cable; providing power from the terminalunit to the handset through the power connection cable; operating thehandset using the power from the terminal unit; disconnecting thehandset from the terminal unit; and operating the handset using power ina battery within the handset; wherein operating the handset includessending and receiving signals through a wireless local loop airinterface, when the handset is connected to the terminal unit, thehandset receiving power from the power from the terminal unit or thebattery through the power connection cable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one implementation of a wireless localloop phone handset including a multi-format power connection.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of one implementation of upgrading a fixedwireless local loop phone to a mobile wireless phone.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of one implementation of a wireless localloop phone handset including a battery and a power connection.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of one implementation of a wireless localloop phone handset and a terminal unit.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of one implementation of connecting anddisconnecting a wireless local loop handset with a terminal unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing awireless local loop phone that operates connected to or disconnectedfrom a terminal unit. In one implementation, a wireless local loop phoneis a handset including an antenna and modem for communicating with awireless network. The handset also includes a multi-format powerconnection. The multi-format power connection is compatible with aremovable power connector (e.g., a cable) connected to a terminal unit.The multi-format power connection is also compatible with a removablebattery. While the handset is connected to the terminal unit through themulti-format power connection, the handset receives power from theterminal unit and operates as a fixed wireless local loop phone. Whilethe handset is connected to the removable battery through themulti-format power connection, the handset receives power from thebattery and operates as a mobile wireless local loop phone.

In another implementation, a wireless local loop phone is again ahandset including an antenna and modem. In this case, however, thehandset includes a power connection for a removable power connector anda separate battery connection for a removable battery. The handset canbe connected to both the power connector of the terminal unit and theremovable battery at the same time. While the handset is connected tothe terminal unit through the power connection, the handset receivespower from the terminal unit and operates as a fixed wireless local loopphone. When the handset is disconnected from the terminal unit (e.g., byremoving the power connector cable), and while the handset is connectedto the removable battery, the handset receives power from the batteryand operates as a mobile wireless local loop phone.

Two illustrative examples of implementations are described below.Additional variations are described after these examples.

In one example of one implementation, a wireless carrier or providerprovides wireless local loop service for customers. The wireless carrieralso provides or plans to provide mobile wireless service for customers.The wireless carrier builds and sells (or has a subcontractor build andsell) wireless local loop phones including multi-format powerconnections. For a customer using fixed wireless local loop service, thewireless carrier sells a wireless local loop phone connected to aterminal unit by a power connector cable. In this case, the powerconnector cable is not removable by the end consumer. For a customerusing a mobile wireless service, the wireless carrier sells a wirelesslocal loop phone with a battery connected to the multi-format powerconnection, without a terminal unit (though the carrier may provide aterminal unit or cradle as a recharging station). For both types ofcustomers, the wireless local loop phone communicates with the samewireless network, such as a cellular or PCS network (e.g., CDMA, TDMA,or GSM).

When a customer wants to upgrade from fixed wireless local loop serviceto mobile wireless service, the customer brings the wireless local loopphone and connected terminal unit to the wireless carrier. The wirelesscarrier removes the power connector cable from the multi-format powerconnection and connects a battery in place of the cable.

In this example, a wireless carrier builds the same phone handset fortwo different types of services and customers. The wireless carrierprovides a separate interchangeable component to specialize the phonehandset for the target service. As a result, the wireless carrierachieves a desirable savings in manufacturing cost. In addition, thewireless carrier can avoid the need to replace consumer hardware whenthe user decides to change the type of service. The wireless carrier canthen provide service changes at a lower cost.

In another example, in one implementation, a user has a wireless localloop phone handset connected to a terminal unit by a removable powerconnector cable. The handset also includes a battery. The terminal unitincludes a power source (or a connection to an external power source)and a peripheral device connection. While the handset is connected tothe terminal unit by the power cable, the handset draws power from theterminal unit, including recharging the battery. The handset andterminal unit operate together as a fixed wireless local loop phone. Inaddition, the handset can interact with a peripheral device connected tothe peripheral connection of the terminal unit. When the handset isdisconnected from the terminal unit, the handset draws power from thebattery. The disconnected handset operates as a mobile wireless phone.When connected or disconnected, the handset communicates with the samewireless network.

In this example, the handset operates as either a fixed wireless localloop phone or as a mobile wireless phone. The user can select the modeof operation by connecting or disconnecting the handset with theterminal unit.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one implementation of a wireless localloop phone handset 100 including a multi-format power connection. Thehandset 100 includes a wireless local loop (WLL) modem 105. The wirelesslocal loop modem 105 is a wireless telephony modem and supports awireless phone connection and protocol or air interface forcommunication with a wireless network, such as a cellular, PCS, or fixedwireless connection (e.g., such as CDMA, TDMA, or GSM among others). Inone implementation, the wireless network is a dedicated wireless localloop network. In another implementation, the wireless network is acellular or PCS network also used for wireless mobile handsets (e.g.,cell phones). In one implementation, the wireless network is connectedto the public switched telephone network (PSTN). In anotherimplementation, the wireless network is connected to a differenttelephone network such as a private exchange or private cellularnetwork.

In an alternative implementation, the handset includes a local wirelessmodem. The local wireless modem supports a wireless phone connection andprotocol or air interface for local or short-range communication with awireless device or handset, such as a typical analog cordlessconnection, a digital cordless connection, or a wireless LAN connection(e.g., 802.11 or “Wi-Fi”).

The wireless local loop modem 105 is connected to a radio interface 110which is in turn connected to an antenna 115. In one implementation, theradio interface 110 is a typical radio interface and includes: radiofrequency (RF) components, a duplexer, a low noise amplifier (LNA), abandpass filter (BPF), an isolator, and a power amplifier. The radiointerface 110 operates similarly to typical radio interfaces in mobilewireless handsets. For sending signals using the wireless local loopconnection, the wireless local loop modem 105 provides modulated signalsto the radio interface 110 and on to the antenna 115. For receivingsignals using the wireless local loop connection, the antenna 115provides a signal received from the wireless network to the radiointerface 110 and on to the wireless local loop modem 105.

The handset 105 includes a control block 120 and connected memory 125 tosupport and control the operation of the handset. 100 The control block120 and the modem 105 operate together to place and receive telephonecalls the wireless network. A command interface 130 is connected to thecontrol block 120. The command interface 130 processes commands receivedby the handset 100. In one implementation, the handset also exchangescommands with the terminal unit. The control block 120 and the commandinterface 130 operate in conjunction to carry out the received commands.

The handset 100 includes a multi-format power connection 135. Themulti-format power connection 135 receives power from a connected powersource and provides power to the components of the handset 100 (powerconnections are not shown in FIG. 1). In one implementation, the handset100 receives power through the multi-format power connection 135 only.The multi-format power connection 135 is compatible with multiple typesof power sources. In one implementation, the multi-format powerconnection 135 is compatible with a removable power connector cable forconnecting the handset 100 to a terminal unit and is compatible with aremovable battery. In this case, the multi-format power connection 135is configured to accept either the power connector cable or the batteryat one time. In another implementation, the multi-format powerconnection is compatible with various power sources that share a commoninterface. In an alternative implementation, the handset also sends andreceives data through the multi-format power connection.

The handset 100 also includes additional components typical of awireless phone handset: a phase locked loop (PLL) 140; an audio block145 including a microphone and a speaker; and a user interface 150including a keypad (e.g., for number entry), ringer, and display.

In operation, the handset 100 places and receives calls through thewireless network as a wireless local loop phone or wireless mobile phonedepending on the connection or disconnection to the terminal unit. Forexample, the handset provides basic wireless local loop phone functionssuch as a simulated dial tone function and an auto pulse sendingfunction.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart 200 of one implementation of upgrading a fixedwireless local loop phone to a mobile wireless phone. Initially, awireless local loop phone handset including a multi-format powerconnection is connected to a terminal unit by a power connector cable.The power connector cable is not ordinarily removable by the user. Theuser has brought the handset and terminal unit to a wireless carrierservice center and requested an upgrade in service from fixed wirelesslocal loop service to mobile wireless service.

The service center disconnects the power connector cable from themulti-format power connection of the handset, block 205. In oneimplementation, the multi-format power connection is inside the casingof the handset such that a proprietary tool is needed to access themulti-format power connection and disconnect the power connector cable.The service center connects a rechargeable battery to the multi-formatpower connection of the handset, block 210. In one implementation, afterconnecting the battery, the service center closes the casing of thehandset such that the user will not ordinarily be able to open thecasing to access the multi-format power connection.

In one implementation, the service center provides a different casingfor the handset (or part of the handset) to provide a connection forrecharging the battery. In this case, the terminal unit includes acradle for receiving the handset to recharge the battery. Alternatively,a separate recharging cradle or cable can be used.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of one implementation of a wireless localloop phone handset 300 including a battery and a power connection. Thehandset 300 is similar to the handset 100 shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly,similar components in FIG. 3 are numbered and operate similarly to thosecomponents described above for FIG. 1.

The handset 300 does not include a multi-format power connection.Instead, the handset 300 includes a battery 355 and a power connection360. While the handset 300 is connected to a terminal unit through apower connector cable connected to the power connection 360, the handsetdraws power from the power connection 360. While the handset 300 isdisconnected from the terminal unit, the handset draws power from thebattery 355.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of one implementation of a wireless localloop phone handset 405 and a terminal unit 410. The handset 405 isconnected to the terminal unit 410 by a power cable 415. As describedabove, while the handset 405 is connected to the terminal unit 410, thehandset draws power from the terminal unit 410 through the power cable415. If the handset 405 is disconnected from the terminal unit 410 byremoving the power cable 415, the handset 405 draws power from aninternal battery (e.g., the battery 350 shown in FIG. 3).

A peripheral device 420 is connected to the terminal unit 410 through aperipheral device connection of the terminal unit 410. In oneimplementation, the peripheral device connection of the terminal unit410 is an RJ-11 connection or an RS-232 or RJ-45 connection. In anotherimplementation, the peripheral connection is a local wirelessconnection, such as IrDA, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. A compatible peripheraldevice 420 exchanges data with the terminal unit 410 through theperipheral device connection. For example, the peripheral device 420 canbe an analog fax machine for an RJ-11 connection, or a computer systemfor an RJ-45 connection. In one implementation, the peripheral device420 and handset 405 can also exchange voice data and signals. Theterminal unit 410 passes data from the peripheral device 420 to thehandset 405 through the power cable 415. Similarly, the handset 405sends data to the peripheral device 420 through the power cable 415 andthe terminal unit 410. In an alternative implementation, the handset 405and the peripheral device 420 do not exchange data.

In an alternative implementation, the terminal unit includes a wirelessmodem and antenna as well. In this case, when the handset is connectedto the terminal unit by the power cable, the handset uses the modem andantenna of the terminal unit to interact with the wireless network. Thehandset sends and receives voice data and other signals to the terminalunit through the power cable. When the handset is disconnected from theterminal unit, the handset uses the modem and antenna of the handset tocommunicate with the wireless network.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart 500 of one implementation of connecting anddisconnecting a wireless local loop handset with a terminal unit.Initially, a wireless local loop handset includes a wireless local loopmodem and antenna, and a battery and a power connection, such as thehandset 300 shown in FIG. 3. A terminal unit includes a power connectionfor a power cable to connect to the handset.

A user connects the handset to a terminal unit, block 505. The userconnects the handset to the terminal unit using a power cable. Theterminal unit provides power to the handset through the power cable,block 510, and the handset operates using the power from the terminalunit, block 515. The handset operates by sending and receiving signalsusing the antenna and modem of the handset to communicate with awireless network, such as for placing and receiving phone calls.

The user disconnects the handset from the terminal unit, block 520. Theuser disconnects the handset by disconnecting the power cable from thepower connection of the handset. The user operates the handset usingpower from the internal battery of the handset, block 525.

In this way, a user can continue to operate the handset using either thepower source of the terminal unit or the battery of the handset.

The various implementations of the invention are realized in electronichardware, computer software, or combinations of these technologies. Someimplementations include one or more computer programs executed by aprogrammable processor or computer. For example, referring to FIGS. 1and 3, in one implementation, the handset includes one or moreprogrammable processors. In general, each computer includes one or moreprocessors, one or more data-storage components (e.g., volatile ornon-volatile memory modules and persistent optical and magnetic storagedevices, such as hard and floppy disk drives, CD-ROM drives, andmagnetic tape drives), one or more input devices (e.g., mice andkeyboards), and one or more output devices (e.g., display consoles andprinters).

The computer programs include executable code that is usually stored ina persistent storage medium and then copied into memory at run-time. Theprocessor executes the code by retrieving program instructions frommemory in a prescribed order. When executing the program code, thecomputer receives data from the input and/or storage devices, performsoperations on the data, and then delivers the resulting data to theoutput and/or storage devices.

Various illustrative implementations of the present invention have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will see thatadditional implementations are also possible and within the scope of thepresent invention. For example, while the above description focuses onimplementations using a wireless local loop connection, otherconnections can also be used, such as a wireless LAN connection. Inanother alternative implementation, either or both of the terminal unitand the handset are not a standalone units, but instead are componentsof other systems, such as integrated into a computer system (e.g., alaptop).

Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to only thoseimplementations described above.

1. A phone system, comprising: a terminal unit comprising: a powersource, a handset connection; a handset comprising: an antenna, a modemconnected to said antenna, a terminal unit connection, a handset userinterface; and a power connection cable connected to said handsetconnection and to said terminal unit connection; wherein said modemprovides an air interface using said antenna, and said air interfaceprovides a wireless local loop, when said handset is connected to saidterminal unit through said handset connection and said terminal unitconnection, said handset receives power from said power source throughsaid power connection cable.
 2. The phone system of claim 1, whereinsaid handset further comprises a battery, and when said handset is notconnected to said terminal unit through said handset connection and saidterminal unit connection, said handset uses said battery for power. 3.The phone system of claim 2, wherein said battery receives power forrecharging from said power source.
 4. The phone system of claim 1,wherein said air interface provides a cellular phone air interface. 5.The phone system of claim 1, wherein said air interface provides a PCSair interface.
 6. The phone system of claim 1, wherein said handsetfurther comprises a handset command interface for processing commandsreceived through said handset user interface.
 7. The phone system ofclaim 6, wherein said handset command interface processes commandsreceived from said terminal unit.
 8. The phone system of claim 1,wherein said terminal unit further comprises a peripheral connection forconnecting a peripheral device to said terminal unit.
 9. The phonesystem of claim 8, wherein said peripheral connection is an RJ-11connection.
 10. The phone system of claim 8, wherein said peripheralconnection supports connecting a fax machine to said terminal unit. 11.The phone system of claim 8, wherein when said handset is connected tosaid terminal unit through said handset connection and said terminalunit connection, said handset receives data from said peripheralconnection.
 12. The phone system of claim 8, wherein when said handsetis connected to said terminal unit through said handset connection andsaid terminal unit connection, said handset sends data to saidperipheral connection.
 13. The phone system of claim 1, wherein saidterminal unit further comprises a terminal command interface forprocessing commands received from said handset.
 14. The phone system ofclaim 1, wherein said terminal unit further comprises a terminal userinterface.
 15. The phone system of claim 14, wherein said terminal unitfurther comprises a terminal command interface for processing commandsreceived through said terminal user interface.
 16. The phone system ofclaim 15, wherein said terminal command interface processes commandsreceived from said handset.
 17. A method of operating a wireless localloop phone, the method comprising: connecting a wireless local loophandset to a terminal unit using a power connection cable; providingpower from said terminal unit to said handset through said powerconnection cable; operating said handset using said power from saidterminal unit; disconnecting said handset from said terminal unit; andoperating said handset using power in a battery within said handset;wherein operating said handset includes sending and receiving signalsthrough a wireless local loop air interface, when said handset isconnected to said terminal unit, said handset receiving power from saidpower from said terminal unit or said battery through said powerconnection cable.